title: Viewpoint: Why do we need a point-of-care CD4 test for low-income countries?
abstract: In this paper, we discuss the reasons why we urgently need a point-of-care (POC) CD4 test, elaborate the problems we have experienced with the current technology which hampers CD4-count coverage and highlight the ideal characteristics of a universal CD4 POC test. It is high-time that CD4 technology is simplified and adapted for wider use in low-income countries to change the current paradigm of restricted access once and for all.
authors.affiliation: Médecins sans Frontières, Operational Centre Brussels, Operational Research Unit, Medical Department, MSF- Luxembourg, Luxembourg. zachariah@internet.lu
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zachariah
authors.forename: S D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Reid
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Chaillet
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Massaquoi
authors.forename: E J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Schouten
authors.forename: A D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Harries
mesh_terms: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D003906:Developing Countries; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D019095:Point-of-Care Systems
chemical_list: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents